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Batavia

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Batavia, the once fabled capital of the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta), was a city of great wealth and commerce in a vast, mysterious island empire run by the Netherlands.

"Batavia,", is one of the few written works that is based on the founding of the city in the early 1600s by the Dutch Trading company, the VOC, and starts from the dockyards of old Amsterdam, as two lovers bid a nervous farewell, unknowing that the founding of Batavia, would one day bring them together, under extraordinary circumstances.

Explore the beginning of an empire as Jayakarta, becomes Batavia, and the fabled Amsterdam of the East, through this historic tale.

Excerpt from Batavia
On a beautiful day in June of the year 1613, two people, an old woman and a young man, were standing on the quay of Texel at Amsterdam, near the tower of the fish-packers, which laves its feet in the vast basin of the Ye.
The woman seemed to be a sufferer, for she was pale and thin, and a dry cough which was occasionally heard gave evidence of slow pulmonary trouble that was sapping her life. She looked down sadly, lifting her eyes at times to him who accompanied her, as if she but waited for him to break the silence that she might speak.
Leaning against the fish-packers' tower, the young mans looks wandered up and down the quay, seeming profoundly preoccupied; but he kept his eyes particularly fastened on a large merchant-ship, on board of which sailors were employed carrying trunks, boxes, and other luggage.
Had any one endeavored to guess the young man's age from his face, when he was as now a prey to thoughtful revery, they would most certainly have been mistaken in it.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1858

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About the author

Hendrik Conscience

345 books17 followers
Henri (Hendrik) Conscience was een Vlaamse schrijver. Hij staat in Vlaanderen bekend als "De man die zijn volk leerde lezen".

Hendrik Conscience in de Nederlandstalige Wikipedia

Hendrik Conscience in de Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren

Hendrik Conscience bij "Schrijversgewijs"


Henri (Hendrik) Conscience was a Flemish writer. In Flanders he is remembered as 'The man who taught his people to read'.

Hendrik Conscience in the English Wikipedia

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